NSW Electricity Distribution Companies

Distribution Network Service Providers, often simply referred to as ‘distributors’, are responsible for maintaining the electricity network, including the poles, wires, stations and substations that deliver the electricity to your home. There are three distributors in NSW, each operating across distinct networks; they are Ausgrid, Essential Energy, and Endeavour Energy.

This article walks you through what you need to know about the three NSW distributors, including what they do, and why it’s important to know who your distributor is.

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What is an electricity distributor?

Electricity distributors are responsible for building and maintaining the energy infrastructure that delivers low-voltage electricity to premises across New South Wales.

To understand the role of distributors, a rudimentary knowledge of the energy industry is first required. In a nutshell, most electricity is created by large, centralised generators, including coal stations, wind turbines and gas stations. The power produced is converted to ‘high-voltage’ electricity and transported long distances via ‘transmission networks’.

The electricity is then converted to low-voltage electricity using a transformer substation. Once the electricity is a low enough voltage, it can then be delivered to homes and business across the network using poles and power lines.

It is these lines, poles and stations that the electricity distributors build and maintain.

Your electricity distributor is who you should contact to report a power outage or damage to energy infrastructure (e.g. fallen powerlines).

Distribution networks are also responsible for designing electricity tariffs, however the implementation of these tariffs and the exact rates you’re charged are left to electricity retailers. Further, your retailer is responsible for issuing and managing your electricity bills – not your distributor.

Finally, New South Wales is slightly different to other states in that they are not generally responsible for connecting your home to the grid. Rather in many cases, customers will need to engage their own ‘Accredited Service Provider’ (ASP) to undertake ‘contestable services’.

NSW Energy Plans

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Endeavour Energy network in Wollongong but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Essential Energy network in Coffs Harbour but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Who is my electricity distributor?

There are three electricity distributors in New South Wales: Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, and Essential Energy. The three distributors are very similar from a network customer’s point of view, though rates and tariffs may vary slightly.

Ausgrid

The Ausgrid Network supplies 1.7 million customers, covering the wider Sydney area, north to Newcastle and inland around Muswellbrook, Barry and Merriwa. You can confirm whether you are on the Ausgrid network using its postcode network check.

Ausgrid was government-owned until December 2016 when it became majority-owned by private investor groups. Ausgrid says that under its new ownership arrangement, it has maintained a focus on safety and reliability, while also preparing for a feature of de-centralised renewable energy generation.

Customers can use the Ausgrid website to report outages, damage to power poles and wires, graffiti and street light faults. Customers can also contact Ausgrid to trim trees that are growing too close to power lines. To report dangerous hazards, you should call Ausgrid using the number below.

Ausgrid Contact details:

Report hazard or loss of supply – 13 13 88

Endeavour Energy

The Endeavour Energy network neighbours the Ausgrid network on its south and west sides. It supplies power to 2.4 million people in households and businesses across Sydney’s greater west, the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Illawarra, Wollongong and South Coast.

The endeavour Energy network consists of 416,000 power poles and street light columns, 186 major substations and 32,000 distribution substations connected by nearly 50,000 kilometres of cables – that’s the equivalent distance of Sydney to London and back. The company is 50.4% owned by Australian-led consortium investors and 49.6% owned by the NSW government.

If you live on the Endeavour Energy network, then it is your port of call to report power outages, faulty streetlights, fallen power lines, and damage to network assets. Endeavour has two phone numbers to contact them on, depending on the query.

Endeavour Energy Contact Details:

Emergency – 131 003

General enquiry – 133 718

Essential Energy

The Essential Energy network spans 95 per cent of rural New South Wales, as well as small parts of south-west Queensland. Some of the major urban centres covered by the Essential network include Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Dubbo, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga.

Essential Energy says it’s more than just a ‘poles and wires’ company; it has launched its ‘Essentials Communities Program’ which provides funding opportunities to communities across the Essential network area. Essential Energy supports local halls in regional communities across NSW and provides sponsorships to community groups that make a difference in their local community.

Once again, if you are on the Essential Energy network, then this is who you should contact to report outages, faulty lights, trees near powerlines, plus damage to network assets. Essential Energy also has an outage SMS notification system, as well as an online ‘StormTracker’ to keep its customers informed about network conditions.

Essential Energy Contact Details:

Emergency – 13 20 80

Electricity supply interruptions – 13 20 80

General enquiries – 13 23 91

Map of NSW Electricity Distribution Networks

What does a retailer do?

As we discussed, distributors are responsible for delivering electricity to your home or business. They are not, however, responsible for issuing your power bill – that is the role of electricity retailers. Unlike distributors, you will usually have a choice over your electricity retailer, so if you’re unhappy with your current power company, then you can switch to a better one. To compare electricity companies, check out our price comparison tool via the link below.

Energy Prices NSW

Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid energy network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Sponsored Products

Based on the general usage^ in the Ausgrid network the AER reference price is: $1,467 / year

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. The next three tabs feature products exclusively from AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin.

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*QLD, SA and NSW: Price is GST inclusive and is: The estimated lowest possible price a representative customer would be charged in a year for this plan, assuming all conditions of discounts offered (if any) have been met, based on the AER’s model annual usage in the distribution region as stated at the top of each table.

~VIC: Price is GST inclusive and is: The estimated lowest possible price a customer would be charged in a year for this plan, using the Victorian Government’s annual reference consumption for domestic customers in your distribution region as stated at the top of each table and assuming all conditions of discounts offered (if any) have been met.

Some plans may require you to meet certain conditions before a discount may become available to you. Check the energy provider’s plan information for details of all possible discounts that may apply and any conditions that need to be met to be eligible for these discounts. Some plans may have a minimum term longer than one year. In that case the total cost over the term will be much higher than the Price (which is only for one year). Consider the provider’s detailed product and pricing information before making a decision to take out a new plan or switch electricity providers.

^What is the Reference Price?

Reference Price: The reference price is set by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) for a financial year in relation to electricity supply to residential customers in the distribution region and is based on an assumed annual usage amount. Any difference between the reference price and the unconditional price of a plan is expressed as a percentage more or less than the reference price. The terms of any conditional discounts are shown, along with any further difference between the reference price and the discount applied if a condition is met, expressed as a percentage more or less than the reference price.

>What is the VDO?

VDO: The Victorian Default Offer (VDO) includes a daily supply charge and usage charges (per kilowatt hour). Differences in tariffs across distribution regions reflect the unique costs of providing electricity services in each area. The difference between the VDO and the unconditional price of a plan, based on the Victorian Government’s annual reference consumption for domestic customers in the distribution region, is expressed as a percentage more or less than the VDO. The terms of any conditional discounts are shown, along with any further difference between the VDO and the discount applied if a condition is met, expressed as a percentage more or less than the VDO.

ACT: Costs based on annual household usage of 5499kWh/year on the EvoEnergy network in Canberra, April 2020. For more information on annual cost calculations please click here.

TAS: Costs based on annual household usage of 6775kWh/year on the TasNetworks electricity network in Tasmania, April 2020. For more information on annual cost calculations please click here.

†By clicking on a brand, 'go to site' or ‘details’ button, you will leave Canstar Blue and be taken to our referral partner to compare. Canstar Blue may be paid for this referral. You agree that Canstar Blue’s terms and conditions apply to this referral.

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